In a commanding performance at the historic Milwaukee Mile, Mexican driver Pato O’Ward clinched victory in the first race of the IndyCar doubleheader weekend. O’Ward, driving for Arrow McLaren, led 133 of the 250 laps, securing his third win of the 2024 season and his first on an oval since July 2022.The victory carries added significance as it comes amidst growing controversy over IndyCar’s decision not to race in Mexico City, O’Ward’s home country. IndyCar CEO Mark Miles had previously stated that promoters in Mexico City considered the series and O’Ward not popular enough to warrant a standalone event, a claim that clearly irked the Mexican driver. O’Ward’s win served as a powerful response, with the driver stating, ‘It was all business today’.Championship implications were significant, as Will Power’s second-place finish narrowed the points gap to leader Alex Palou. Power now trails Palou by 43 points with two races remaining, down from 54 points before the race. Palou, who started 12th and finished fifth, maintains control of the championship but faces increased pressure.The race also saw a surprise podium finish for Conor Daly, who claimed third place after starting 30th. This result marked Juncos Hollinger Racing’s first-ever podium finish in IndyCar. Daly expressed his satisfaction, saying, ‘My goal is to be on the podium in this series and it’s been far too long since I’ve been on the podium, so it’s nice to get another one’.The IndyCar series now looks ahead to the second race of the doubleheader at Milwaukee on Sunday, where the championship battle between Palou and Power is expected to intensify further.
Key points
- Pato O’Ward won the first race of the IndyCar doubleheader at Milwaukee Mile, leading 133 of 250 laps.
- Will Power finished second, narrowing Alex Palou’s championship lead to 43 points with two races remaining.
- Conor Daly surprised with a third-place finish, giving Juncos Hollinger Racing their first podium in IndyCar.
- The victory comes amid controversy over IndyCar’s decision not to race in Mexico City, O’Ward’s home country.
